Rihanna, Brian Wilson, Everyone Else Suddenly Mad at Pandora

[…]This disconnect between old media companies and new is hilariously illustrated by comments that one of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, made recently at the Future of Music Coalition Summit. After some harsh words for the major labels, Wyden said the following, as quoted by Digital Music News: “Now, if it weren’t for the disruptive independent record labels — I’m talking about people like I.R.S. and Sub Pop and Tim/Kerr — we might never have known much about bands like R.E.M., and Nirvana and the Replacements … I sure want us to remember their enduring influence on not just rock music, but on their contributions to our culture and an entire generation.”

There’s only one problem with Wyden’s professed support for indie labels. The American Association of Independent Music, which represents many well-known indie labels, including Sub Pop (Tim/Kerr is defunct, and I.R.S. is now part of a major label), has come out against his legislation. In a letter to Congress dated October 1, the organization writes, “We urge you to reject misleading titles of ‘fairness’ and claims of ‘parity’ and oppose this bill.” Kurt Cobain could not be reached for comment.